The Global Stray Dog Population Crisis and Humane Relocation
By NAIA founder and chairwoman, Patti Strand
The scope of the stray dog problem in many parts of the world is unimaginable by American standards. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are more than 200 million stray dogs worldwide and that every year, 55,000 people die from rabies, while another 15 million receive post exposure treatment to avert the deadly disease. 95% of these cases occur in Asia and Africa, and 99% of the fatalities are caused by dogs.
http://www.naiaonline.org/Library/understanding_animals/global_stray_dog_population_crisis.html
STREET DOGS---THAILAND
June 8, 2009—Thailand's capital city of Bangkok is struggling to cope with a growing population of stray dogs. It's estimated as many as 300,000 strays wander the streets.
© 2009 National Geographic (AP)
Unedited Transcript
The city of Bangkok might have the worst stray dog problem of any city in the world.
Its estimated that as many as 300-thousand stray dogs wander the streets of the Thailand capital.
Kind-hearted Buddhists who feed the strays, and poor public infrastructure to handle their control, means that the stray dog population is rampantly growing.
SOUNDBITE: (Thai) Bang-On Kingsak, Carer for Street Dogs: "I feel sorry, I feel really sorry for them. When I see stray dogs I look at them and I want to bring them in if I have the money because I love dogs, and so does my husband, but sometimes they cause so much trouble."
Unwanted dogs are often rounded up and dumped at the local Buddhist temples where monks won't turn them away. But one temple has literally 'gone to the dogs'.
The temple's dog condominium houses 700 of the animals and spends 1,500 US dollars a week feeding them. It's a heavy burden on the temple's small staff.
SOUNDBITE: (Thai) Phra Phayom Kalayano, Abbot of Wat Suan Kaew: "They run on the street causing car accidents. People can get hurt and their dead bodies on the streets create an ugly scene. So we have to solve this problem."
One non-government organization is running an animal birth control project.
First, packs of dogs contained to one neighborhood are identified.
Then, one-by-one a group is captured, taken to be sterilized and vaccinated before being returned to where they came from.
SOUNDBITE: (English) Annelize Booysen, General Manager of Soi Cats and Dogs (SCAD): "These animals will now have a very healthy and happy co-existence with the humans in this specific community, because they won't be able to have unwanted litters anymore, plus they've had their vaccinations which means they are a stable population now which should be able to live out their lives quite happily here and that is what we are aiming at."
Veterinary services are limited and this private organization can only sterilize a very few animals at a given time.
Not enough, they say, to effectively break the birth cycle of the dogs. And Bangkok's street dog population will continue to grow until more people are willing to take more action.
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Offering Thailand's Street dogs a Second Chance
Through Immunzation, Neutering and Adoption Program
Hundreds of thousands of dogs are living on the streets [Bangkok alone has a conservative estimate of 150,000 strays] but it is the condition in which they are forced to live. Frightened, riddled with parasites , hairless with mange, most are hungry, many are starving, and hundreds live with fractured bones or are paralyzed because of car accidents. It is a national tragedy, and adding to Thailand's disgrace is the fact there are no humane shelters, no effective SPCA-type organizations as yet where animals can be taken or abuse reported, no well-run Government adoption facilities, no animal rights, no sensible laws governing pet ownership and certainly no animal law enforcement, no educational programmed or Government campaigns, and sadly euthanasia is practiced only rarely due to religious beliefs.
Shamefully, Thailand numbers among those countries labeled internationally as 'cruel to animals'. This label may have stuck due to Thailand's lack of action, funding and know how in tackling animal issues rather than by active abuse, but it is nevertheless harmful to the country's image. Gratefully though, in2001 Thailand's dog-lovers received a large bone from Bangkok's new Governor, Mr.Samak Suntornavej: there were to be no more mass exterminations [Cruelly administered by strychnine poisoning].Instead mass neutering was proposed with an initial target of 100,000 sterilizations per year in Bangkok alone. The policy is well meaning, but in program is rather barbaric. Meeting targets is often the drive behind the daily sterilizations at the Bangkok Metropolitan's Din Daeng Dog Pound, not the welfare and well-being of the dogs.
http://www.dogchance.com/en_intro.htm
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STRAY DOGS in Buddhist Bangkok
Municipal authorities used to euthanize more than 200 dogs a day. But six years ago, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals set up shop in Bangkok and ran a campaign arguing the practice violated Buddhist principles. The city adopted a pro-life dog policy to quell public outcry. Bangkok spent $825,000 caring for street dogs last year, neutering -- then releasing -- some 42,000 strays.
http://www.mongabay.com/external/stray_dogs_thailand.htm
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Gemma Ashford: Singlehandedly Saving Thailand’s Street Dogs (Video)
- by Sharon Seltzer
- February 25, 2012
Lucky was one of seven puppies born outside a bakery in North West Thailand near the Burmese border. Gemma Ashford, a teacher who came to Thailand from the UK to teach refugees began feeding them each morning. Unfortunately, four of the puppies were killed on the road; another died after boiling water was tossed on him and one puppy was kicked to death.
Lucky, Jack and Billy all survived and ended up at the Baan Unrak Sanctuary founded and run by Gemma Ashford and a few volunteers. After seeing how street dogs were mistreated in Thailand, Ashford knew she had to help.
Lucky, Jack and Billy all survived and ended up at the Baan Unrak Sanctuary founded and run by Gemma Ashford and a few volunteers. After seeing how street dogs were mistreated in Thailand, Ashford knew she had to help.
Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/gemma-ashford-singlehandedly-saving-thailands-street-dogs-video.html#ixzz1nVCf5JsO
ROMANIA
Romania declares war on stray dogs - report (April 2011)
Stray dogs are an issue across the Balkan Peninsula and not just in Bulgaria. They can be seen in large numbers in Athens, in Belgrade, and in Sofia, but the problem in Bucharest, Romania, appears to have spun out of control.
And with up to 250 000 stray dogs in the capital of Bucharest (there are about 9500 strays in Sofia by comparison), the Romanian authorities have decided to take the ultimate measure in order to solve the problem – put them to death, Bulgarian media reported, citing Deutsche Welle on April 7 2011.
Packs of strays have been attacking the residents of Bucharest for decades, with several fatalities accounted for. The latest case was a woman, mauled to death on the streets in January 2011, which caused a public outrage, the report said.
Romanian politicians have acted swiftly following the latest attack, authorising the culling of animals within 14 days of capture if unclaimed by anyone. Reportedly, "many municipalities have stocked massive quantities of poison with which to kill the animals".
According to conflicting estimates, the number of stray dogs in Bucharest is anywhere between 40 000 and 250 000. There are no exact criteria outlined by the Romanian government dictating when and how an animal can be killed, with the decision residing entirely with the respective municipality, the report said.
The decision has naturally caused concern among animal rights movements. Marlene Wartenberg, from Four Paws, has demanded that "Romania adheres to the norms outlined by the World Health Organisation, which dictate that stray dogs are to be castrated and released". http://sofiaecho.com/2011/04/07/1071730_romania-declares-war-on-stray-dogs-report
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Majority of pets in Malta were once strays ( October 5, 2008) 1,500 cats and dogs neutered so far.The majority of pets owned by the Maltese were once roaming the streets, underlining the problem of stray cats and dogs, according to the preliminary results of a questionnaire released yesterday.
http://www.timesofmlta.com/articles/view/20081005/local/majority-of-pets-in-malta-were-once-strays.227531
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Sri Lanka to allow killing of 3 million stray dogs
Updated January 07, 2012 22:06:10
Sri Lanka has lifted a moratorium on killing stray dogs as it tries to reduce the more than 2,000 cases of hospitalisation due to dog bites every month.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-07/sri-lanka-targets-3-million-dogs-for-mass-kill/3762474?section=world
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Pennsylvania, USA
PA Police Propose To Shoot Strays
January 6, 2012
Joseph Turner, Global Animal
(ANIMAL NEWS) PENNSYLVANIA— In the midst of financial woe, Pennsylvania’s capital city Harrisburg is considering allowing police officers to shoot stray dogs. As a cost-cutting measure, city officials reduced their yearly financial contribution to the local Humane Society by $50,000. Instead of directing strays toward shelters, the city of Harrisburg contemplates an inhumane alternative straight from China as a way to get strays off the streets.
http://www.globalanimal.org/2012/01/06/pa-police-propose-to-shoot-strays-take-action/62484/
WARM COMFORT FOR STRAY DOGS IN SARAJEVO
There are more than 3,000 steet dogs in Sarajevo. Feb. 2012: 35 ft. of snow, as dogs in this video are fed by concerned citizens. http://media.smh.com.au/news/world-news/warm-comfort-for-stray-dogs-in-sarajevo-2940680.html (1min. 38sec)
GREECE
Local shelter is overwhelmed. Read full article.
Trikala, Greece – Many people have not heard of the small city of Trikala, Greece. Located in the Thessaly region, it boasts the beautiful Litheos River. Tourists love to visit to get a taste of both a modern and historical city.
Besides the beautiful scenery and tourism, there is an underlying problem, which might be noticeable to those passing through. In this small town, hundreds of animals run rampant. They are starving, without shelter, and are susceptible to abuse. Citizens of the city either turn a blind eye to the issue, or lash out. Often, stray animals are shot, clubbed, hanged, poisoned and even fed glass. To many, the animals are a nuisancehttp://news.petpardons.com/volunteer-rescue-shelter-in-greece-under-attack-by-city-mayor/
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